Electrical adapter device



Nov. 10, 1931. v. F. GREAvEs ET AL ELECTRICAL ADAPTER DEVICE Filed June 15, 1928 5, w 1 J ai WINT.. Q ,IMM mx H Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE VALENTINE FORD GREAVES. l' ST. CHARLES, .AND BERT EISENHOUR, 0l' AUBRA,

ILLINOIS,VASSIGNORS, BY lHESN'E ASSIGNMENTS, T0 UNITED REPRODUCERS COB- PORATION, 0l' ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY ELECTRICAL ADAPTER DEVICE Application Med June 15, 1928. Serial No. 285,678.

The present invention relates to adapter devices for use in electrical circuits, such as, for example, in a circuit from an electrical pick-up device in a phonograph to an audio l amplifying device in a radio set.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a novel adapter device adapted to be included .between a radio valve and a socket designed normally for such valve. Where le pick'iup devices have been used heretofore, it was necessary to remove the valve and to insert a pick-up plug in its place, and to reverse this manipulation when return to the operation of the radio set was desired. Such inconvience and disadvantage is entirely eliminated by the present invention. In the latter, the adapter is inserted in the valve socket, and the valve is inserted in the adapt er, the latter remaining at all times, Whether S0 operating the pick-up circuits or the radio device. lhe change from one to the other is effected by a simple turn of a switch on the panel or other part of the apparatus, such switch being connected in the circuit of the adapter. The invention comprehends the provision of such an adapter.

Other objects, advantages, capabilities and features are comprehended by the invention as will later appear, and are inherently 3o possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. l is a view in spaced assembly relation of an adapter constructed in accordance with the invention, and associated parts; b Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the assem- 1y; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits used with an adapter of the tive prong type.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of an adapter of the four prong type;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits used with the adapter shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6vis a perspective view. of the cap with 45 dotted phantom of the plug and prongs.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the embodiments selected to illustrate the invention, are shown in association with a radio valve or vacuum tube having a base 1 o and a number of conductors or prongs 2, 3, 4,

5, and 6, of which prong 2is connected to the grid of the valve, prong 3 is connected to the plate, prong 4 to one side of the heating element, prong 5 to the other side of the heating element, and prong 6 connected to the heated electrode from which the electronic flow is initiated.

The adapter of thisinvention is also associated with a socket having a body 7 and a base portion 8, the latter carrying a plurality of contacts 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, located tobe engaged, normally, by the prongs 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, when the latter are inserted in the. apertures 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, respectively. ln other words, the socket is normally designed to receive the prongs of the vacuum valve.

1n the present invention, it is an object of the invention to remove the valve from the socket, and to insert the adapter in the socket and then insert the valve in the adapter. The adapter remains as a permanent part ot' the assembly, and there is no necessity of removing the valve, and inserting the adapter every time that it is desired to operate the phonograph pick-up device, and to remove the adapter and reinsert the valve in the socket when it is desired to return to radio receiving operation.

One of the adapter embodiments, such as that shown in Fig. 1, comprises a bodyportion or disc 19 of .insulating material, from a surface of which, such as the under surface thereof, project conductor elements or prongs, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, so positioned and located to be respectively inserted in the apertures or openings 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 in the body portion 7 of the socket. The body 19 of the adapter also is provided with a plurality of apertures 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, into which are inserted the prongs 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the vacuum valve or tube, respectively. The apertures 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 are arranged in the same order as the projections or prongs 20, 21, 22, 23'and 24, and in given angular off-set relation thereto, so that the apertures 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 are associated with or correspond to the prongs 21, 22, 23, and 24. The body portion- 19 of the adapter carries a set of contacts 30, 31,

' 28, and 29 respectively, to be engaged by the prongs 2, 4, 5 and 6 respectively, when these prongs are inserted in the holes' or apertures in the adapter.

A cap or cover 36 may be provided for the adapter to enclose the contacts, the cap 36 being provided with suitable apertures for the passage of the prongs 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, and the flange of the cap rictionally engaging the shoulder portion 37 of the head 19, and abutting against the flange portion 38 of said adapter. The cap may be provided with suitable slots 39 and 40, for the projection therethrough of the ends of the contacts 34, 31 and 35.

Fig. 3 shows a wiring diagram. The grid circuit is by way of a conductor 41 through grid resistance 42 and condenser 43 to conductor 44 connected to the contact 9. The current proceeds through prong 20 in aperture 14, then through contact 30 to prong 2 in aperture 25, and thence to the grid 45 of the vacuum tube. The plate current passes from the plate 46 of the vacuum tube through conductor 47 to pin or prong 3, in aperture 26 and through the contact 31 to the conductor 48 and switch point 49. When using the device for radio reception, the current passes through the switch 50 to switch hinge 51, then to the conductor 52 to the contact 35 and thence to the prong 21 in aperture 15 and through the contact 10 to the conductor 53 and the primary 54 of the audio transformer, and thence through the conductor 55 to the battery 56. The filament circuit is applied by current from any suitable source connected by way of conductor 57 through contact 11, prong 22 in aperture 16, contact 32, prong 4 in aperture 27 to the filament 58 and thence through the prong 5 in aperture 28, contact 33 to prong 23 in aperture 17, to contact 12 and conductor 59 back to the source of energy. The heated electrode circuit is from the electrode 60 to the prong 6 in aperture 29 to contact portion 34"L connected to prong 24 in aperture 18 and through contact 13 to conductor 61 leading back to the battery 56.

When operatin for pick-up operation from a phonograp to the audio circuit, the switch 50 is thrown into the dotted line position to contact 62, thus opening the circuit from the plate to the transformer. In this case, the transformer circuit is completed by way of the switch 50 in dotted line position as shown in Fig. 3, through contact 61, conductor 62, pick-up device 63, condenser 64, conductor 65, connected to the contact 34.

From the above, it will be clear that changing from pick-up operation to radio receiving operation, a mere turning ot' the switch 50 will ell'ect such operation as desired, without the 'necessit of removing and replacing the adapter and the vacuum tube.

In Fig. 4 is shown an adapter constructed in accordance with the invention, but havling four prongs instead of five, and adapted for use with the tubes from the filament of which the electronic flow is effected. This adapter is similar in construction to that shown in Fig. 1, and comprises a body portion 66, provided with four prongs 67, 68, 69 and 70, located in given angular relation with apertures 71, 72, 7 3, and 74, respectively. Conductively connected with the prongs 67. 68, 69 and 70, are contacts 75, 76, 77 and 78 respectively, of which contacts 75, 77 and 78 are located adjacent the holes 71, 73 and 74 to be engaged by the prongs of the vacuum tube inserted in such holes. An extra contact 79 is located With its resilient contact part adjacent the opening 72 to be engaged by the prong of the vacuum tube passing through such opening. This adapter also is designed to have a cap engaged thereto similar to the cap 36. The prongs 67, 68, 69 and 70 are disposed to be inserted in the four openings of the ordinary vacuum tube socket.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, is shown the Wiring diagram for use with the four prong type of adapter and vacuum tube. The grid circuit runs from Athe grid 80 to its prong in the aperture 71'in the adapter and thence through contact element to the adapter prong 67 located in its corresponding aperture in the socket and connected to the contact element 81 of the socket and thence by way of the conductor 82 through grid resistance 83 and condenser 84 to conductor 85. The plate circuit is traced from plate 86 to its prong in aperture 72 of the adapter and thence by way of the contact 79 to conductor 87, switch contact 88, switch 89, switch pin 90, conductor 91, contact 76 adapter prong 68, contact element 92 ofl the socket, to conductor 93, primary 94 of the transformer. conductor 95 to battery 96. The filament circuit is traced from the battery 97 by way of conductor 98, socket contact 99, 'adapter prong 69, contact 77 on the adapter, to the filament prong in the aperture 73 and thence through the filament. From the filament it proceeds through its prong in the aperture 74 of the adapter and thence through contact 78, adapter prong 7 0, socket contact 101, and conductor 102 back to the battery 97 The above circuits have been traced when the device is o erating for radio reception. In the case w enpick-u operation is desired, the switch 89 is Shiite to the dotted line position thereof, so as to open the plate circuit to the transformer and to complete the circuit from the transformer through the pick-u device by way of switch contact 103, con uctor 104, pickup device 105, condenser 106, conductor 107, to the conductor 102, and connected to the negative side of the batteries 97 and 96, as shown. In this case the circuit is from the power source, that 1s, the batteries 96 and 97, by way of the pick-up through the transformer, and back to the batteries.

While we have herein described and upon the drawings shown a few illustrative embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts detailsv and features without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus disclosed the invention, we

claim:

An adapter device comprising an insulating disc provided with s aced apertures, conducting elements exten ing from a face of said disc and in spaced relation to said apertures, and contact elements associated with said a ertures and conducting elements, some o said elements extending beyond the edge of said disc for connection of circuit conductors, and a cover for enclosing said contact elements, and having openings through which may extend the contact elerdnents which extend beyond the edge of the isc.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names to this specification.

VALENTINE FORD GREAVES. BERT E. EISENHOUR. 

